Hattiesburg to hold job fair for restaurant, hospitality industries
The city of Hattiesburg is working with local restaurants and other businesses to help recruit employees amid a staff shortage that is becoming critical.
“Our businesses are doing their best at serving residents and visitors safely, but many are facing uphill battles like staffing, product supply and more,” Mayor Toby Barker said Thursday at a news conference outside City Hall.
City officials will hold a job fair for the restaurant and hospitality industry May 12 to bring in people looking for jobs and connecting them with potential employers, Barker said. It is a welcome measure for restaurants in the Hub City.
“This is the first time the city administration has taken proactive measures such as this to help the restaurant community, so we are grateful for what you and your team are doing,” restaurateur Robert St. John told Barker.
St. John said business is good, but like many other restaurants, not just locally but across the country, finding employees has become almost impossible.
“There are several different factors, but we’re in a crisis mode,” he said. “It’s not just Hattiesburg. It’s not just Mississippi. People in Oregon, people in Chicago — people everywhere — we’re dealing with this problem.
“We’re very excited that the administration has taken a proactive approach and this job fair is coming up.”
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St. John, who has been in the restaurant business for about 40 years, owns Crescent City Grill, El Rayo, Ed’s Burger Joint, Tabella and The Midtowner.
Edward Hargrove, general manager of Pyro’s Pizza, said his company has been able to thrive amid the coronavirus pandemic, but also is struggling with finding employees.
“This is very new to me, dealing with the staffing issues that we’ve had,” he said. “There are opportunities out there. A lot of restaurants and a lot of businesses are offering incentives (for employees).
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Restaurants took a big hit, especially in the early days of the pandemic, having to close dining rooms and implement curbside and delivery services. As restrictions loosened, business has picked up, but finding enough workers is still a struggle, St. John said.
At least 15 businesses will be available at the job fair, which will be from 4-6 p.m. May 12 at Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center, 220 West Front St. Anyone 16 or older may attend.
“If you are looking for work, there is a place for you,” Barker said.
Participating restaurants include Pyro’s Pizza, New South Restaurant Group (Crescent City Grill, El Rayo, Ed’s Burger Joint, Tabella and The Midtowner), Southbound Bagel, Blu Jazz Cafe, Nellie’s Chicken and Daiquiris, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, Holiday Inn’s Burger Theory, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Mugshots Grill and Bar, Patio 44 and Raisin’ Cane’s Chicken Fingers.
Other businesses that will be taking applications include Hattiesburg Police and Fire departments, Hattiesburg Parks and Recreation, Hotel Indigo and Stokes Distributing.
Other businesses interested in participating in the job fair may call 601-545-4501.
For more information, visit hattiesburgms.com/jobfair.
Contact Lici Beveridge at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.
